2013 Tri-County players of the yearPOTTSVILLE —When Michael Perry, The Courier’s 2013 Tri-County boys basketball player of the year, began playing basketball in the third grade, it wasn’t out of love for the sport. Few would have guessed he would grow to be such a valuable asset to the Apaches’ basketball program. “Football was my first love. I didn’t want to touch a basketball,” he said. “What really changed it was my mom begging me and begging me to play. Of course, I ended u...

Pottsville vs. Atkins basketball fundraiser tonightPOTTSVILLE — George Jones Gymnasium will host a basketball fundraiser to benefit the athletic departments for Atkins and Pottsville. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. Three basketball games will be played — 30 years of age and older, ladies only and 29-younger. Contests and giveaways include a $1,000 halfcourt shot, $50 gas cards $100 Walmart gift card and $100 Dick’s Sporting Goods gift card. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Battl...

Lady Cyclones shut out FS NorthsideFORT SMITH — The Russellville Lady Cyclones snapped a three-game losing streak Friday night when they shut out the Fort Smith North Side Lady Bears 5-0 in 7A/6A-Central Conference softball. Russellville (7-3, 2-2 6A/7A-Central) sophomore pitcher Andrea Kindrick returned to the lineup after missing four games due to injury and struck out 14 Northside batters, allowed three hit sand one walk in seven innings. Lady Cyclones head coach Harley Siss...

A Boots Campaign family faceoffDARDANELLE — The April 6 nonconference baseball game between the Pottsville Apaches and the Dardanelle Sand Lizards will be defined by something much greater than who scores the most runs. This time they’ll be helping raise money for wounded soldiers. “It’s a lot bigger than what we are as a baseball club,” Pottsville head coach Wes McCrotty said. He organized the event with his brother and Sand Lizards head coach Will McCrotty, who became int...

Donkey basketball at Dover on FridayDOVER — Come out for a night of fun and laughter when the donkeys hit the basketball court Friday at the Dover Pirate Gym. Game time will be 6 p.m. Community members as well as high school seniors will attempt to stay on top of the donkeys and somehow play a little basketball. Tickets are $6 in advance or $8 at the gate. They can be purchased at The Dover Times and McB’s Stoplite in Dover. Kids age 5 and under are free. Concessions of hamburge...

Cyclones to host state weight meetFor the Russellville Cyclones, the annual state weight meet is secondary to becoming a better football team. RHS will host the 21st annual state weight meet on April 6, but head coach Jeff Holt described it as more of a way to motivate the kids in the long months before football season begins than a primary goal. “It’s a long time until August,” Holt said. “We do some lifts to get them ready for the meet, like power cling and bench press, but ...

Cyclones subdue KickapooLITTLE ROCK — The Russellville Cyclones defeated the Kickapoo Chiefs 9-3 Saturday in their final game of the Central Arkansas invitational baseball tournament at Lamar Porter Field. Russellville (4-5, 1-2 6A/7A-Central Conference) was scheduled to play Cabot, but inclement weather forced a schedule shuffle and a shortened game against the Missouri team. The Cyclones won this one in four innings, as sophomore Garrett Freeman earned his first wi...

Ballin’ believers — Jeffcoat hopes to impact local, foreign youthDillan Jeffcoat knew something had to change. Throughout most of his early childhood he was unhappy. His parents took him to church, but Jeffcoat described himself as a “Sunday Christian.” That is, someone who only played the role of a believer while he was in the church building on Sunday. For Jeffcoat, it was a path that would lead him into destruction — from being kicked off the basketball team, through wild and dangerous parties, physical ...

2013 Tri-County coaches of the yearPOTTSVILLE — It was little surprise that coaches in the Arkansas River Valley elected Shane Thurman to receive The Courier’s 2013 Tri-County boys basketball coach of the year award. Thurman led the Pottsville Apaches to a 27-6 season, 4A-4 Conference championship, regional tournament runner-up and, of course, the Class 4A state championship. “It’s really an honor,” Thurman said. “But I also realize that it’s sort of a team award because indivi...

Cyclones split a pair in LR baseball tournamentLITTLE ROCK — The Russellville Cyclones split a pair of games in the Central Arkansas Invitational at Lamar Porter Field on Thursday. After dropping a 6-2 game to the Little Rock Central Tigers the Cyclones (3-5, 1-2 6A/7A-Central Conference) silenced an old demon with a 8-3 win over the El Dorado Wildcats. The Wildcats knocked Russellville out of the state tournament last year — something the Cyclones weren’t soon to forget. “We sure loved ge...

Injuries expose Lady CyclonesWhen Russellville High School sophomore pitcher Andrea Kindrick left a softball game during a recent tournament in Clarksville with a strained oblique, the Lady Cyclones knew she left a huge hole in their defense. Kindrick had 82 strikeouts in seven games and had only allowed one earned run. “It was a confidence blow,” RHS head coach Harley Sisson said. “Just a traumatic shock, really. You just don’t realize how much of an impact player she is...

Five Little Johns earn various honorsDANVILLE — It’s been a learning experience for the Danville Little Johns. After back-to-back basketball conference championships in the 2A-4, Danville took its licks this year in the 3A-4. Head coach Dusty Wright said there has been plenty of good to take away from the season. For example, sophomore guard Jay Trusty was named to the all-state and all-conference teams. Trusty averaged 22.3 points per game with a 45 percent shooting average. Tru...

Cyclones falter against ConwayThe Conway Wampus Cats handed the Russellville Cyclones a 7-4 loss in 7A/6A-Central Conference baseball action Thursday at M.J. Hickey Park. Russellville (2-4, 1-2) led 2-1 after the first inning, then regained the lead in the fourth, 3-2. But Conway scored five runs in the seventh and final inning. The Wampus Cats rapped out 10 hits and committed three errors. Hayden Hipps led the Cyclones offensive with by going 2-for-4 with three RBI. Jorda...

Cyclones go 2-2 in soccerThe Russellville Cyclones soccer team opened 7A/6A-Central Conference play with a 4-0 shutout at Greenwood on Tuesday. RHS also went 1-2 at the Razorback Invitational in Texarkana, Ark., last weekend. Russellville’s first and third goals at Greenwood were scored on crosses by Will Hanna to Oscar Enriquez for the goals. Another cross, this time by Gerson Ramirez to Miquel Lozano, resulted in a score. William Crisostomo wrapped up the Cyclones’ ...

Robinson no-hitter helps CyclonesWhen your starting pitcher throws a no-hitter, your team gets 10 hits and every position in the infield and outfield makes a play, you’re not going to lose many baseball games. Austin Robinson (1-1) allowed no hits, just two walks and eight strikeouts in seven innings Tuesday as the Russellville Cyclones shut out the Greenwood Bulldogs 7-0 in 7A/6A-Central Conference action at M.J. Hickey Park. RHS (2-3, 1-1) will host Conway today and play Li...

Pirates 3rd in meet at DardanelleDARDANELLE — Dover High School’s track and field teams finished third in the Dardanelle Relay. The team was led by Carson Miller who won the 3,200-meter, 1,600 and 800 races. Logan Brown finished third in the 3,200-meter and the 1,600. Noah Hampton finished second in shotput, Hunter Hogue finished third in the 100, and the Pirates 3,200 relay team came in third. Sydney Hinkle won the 400 and came in third in the 100 for the Lady Pirates. The s...

Lady Cyclones fall in ClarksvilleCLARKSVILLE — The Russellville Lady Cyclones softball team fell in the final game of the Clarksville Tournament to Sylvan Hills, 1-0 after only four innings of play. Each game in the tournament was played with a 65 minute time limit, but the championship game had not been scheduled to have this time limit. The limit was placed due to impending weather and Sylvan Hills was awarded the championship after scoring one unearned run. Andrea Kindrick...

The calm before the championshipThere are certain perks that come along with being a sports reporter. Sometimes, when I’m sitting courtside at a sporting event, I look around at all the people who paid hard-earned money to watch the game that I am being paid to cover. That’s a pretty cool gig. Thursday night at Barton Coliseum, when the Pottsville Apaches claimed a 54-50 victory over Pine Bluff Dollarway for the Class 4A boys state championship, I looked around at 4,000 fans...

James’ buzzer-beater gives LR Hall sweep of 6A LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Evan James drilled a desperation 3-pointer from the corner as time ran out, giving Little Rock Hall a 34-33 victory over Jonesboro for the Warriors’ fourth consecutive Arkansas Class 6A title. With seven lead changes and six ties, a player from each team was named the most valuable player — Bobby Portis for Hall (26-5), who had 10 points and 17 rebounds, and Justin Ross for Jonesboro (28-5), who had 10 points and four assist...

RHS softball wins 10-0The Russellville Lady Cyclones dominated their 6A/7A-Central Conference opener Friday with a 10-0 win over the Mount Saint Mary Academy Belles at M.J. Hickey Park. Russellville (4-0, 1-0 7A/6A-Central) put the game away in five innings, with seven of its runs scored in the first, and one in the third, fourth and fifth. Andrea Kindrick pitched a perfect game with 13 strikeouts and no walks. Sophomore Ashley Pizzolato hit a two-RBI and drove Sha...